Fear of mad cow disease in US beef imports under US-South Korea free trade agreement continues to rattle South Korean politics. After cabinet resignation President Lee has not yet made any public comment.

Seoul (AsiaNews) – After weeks of violent protests and plummeting popular support, South Korea's entire cabinet has offered to resign. President Lee Myung-bak will decide in the next few hours.

After another large rally to protest, the cabinet decided to take responsibility for the crisis which was provoked when it agreed to resume imports of US beef under a free trade agreement.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets accusing the government of failing to safeguard their health after South Korea agreed to resume imports of US beef, which were suspended after an outbreak of BSE, or mad cow disease, in cattle there.

“The prime minister and the entire cabinet members offered to resign, taking responsibility for the recent developments," a spokesman for the prime minister said.

For his part President Lee had no immediate comment on the resignations.

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